DEFINING THE U.N. ROLE IN IRAQ

 Editorial de  “The New York Times” del 10.05.2003

SSince the diplomatic meltdown at the Security Council in March, the Bush administration has treated the United Nations with disdain, giving it only a minimal role in the reconstruction of Iraq. That would remain largely so under a new resolution presented to the Security Council yesterday, but the American plan would at least bring the U.N. back into play and might begin to heal the divisions produced by Washington's decision to go to war.

The resolution amounts to a grudging admission by the United States that it needs some help from the U.N. if it hopes to get Iraq back on its feet and on course toward becoming a democratic model for the Arab world. Only the U.N. can confer legitimacy on American occupation, end sanctions, open the door to substantial international reconstruction aid and attest to the representative nature of Iraq's future government. Judging from the initial reactions, including France's, Security Council agreement seems likely later this month. Passage of the resolution would show that France, Russia and Germany, all of whom opposed the war, are now willing to cooperate with the United States.

Washington is eager to have the U.N. lift oil export sanctions, which have clearly outlived their original purpose. More questionably, it wants future petroleum revenues to be entrusted temporarily to a new assistance fund, which would largely be under American and British control. The U.N. would have only a limited oversight role through its representation on the new assistance fund's advisory board, on which the World Bank and International Monetary Fund would also be represented.

The U.N. is also being asked to grant American and British occupation forces legal authority to reshape Iraq's institutions. The U.N. would have only a small role. A special coordinator to be appointed by Secretary General Kofi Annan would take part, along with American, British and Iraqi representatives, in rebuilding local and national governing institutions. Regrettably, the United States seems intent on starting an interim government later this month, before the likely arrival of this U.N. coordinator.

Washington stubbornly insists on bypassing the U.N. altogether on the sensitive issue of unconventional weapons. Unless American claims about weapons discoveries can be independently verified, they will be widely distrusted. The people best suited to verify any findings are the international arms control professionals already assembled and trained by the U.N.

Despite the resolution's broad reach, it still leaves many important questions unresolved, like, for example, the extent to which the vast debts incurred by Saddam Hussein's regime will be honored. Even so, its passage would mark a welcome step back toward international cooperation on Iraq.